Nathan Redmond may be a star of the England Under-21 side who was one of Norwich City's most dazzling players in the 2013/14 Barclays Premier League season but he is still grounded enough to take a keen interest in the club's own under-21 squad.
The winger is due to be involved in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-off second leg in Croatia next Tuesday when Norwich are hosting Tottenham Hotspur in their own Under-21 Premier League match.
Redmond, who signed from Birmingham City in 2013, got to know Josh Murphy, one of the leading graduates from Norwich's FA Youth Cup winning side, in the England Under-18 set-up and is impressed by the holistic manner in which Neil
Adams, the club's first-team and former Under-18s manager, continues the integration of academy players with the seniors.
"They've a very good academy," Redmond said. "It's good to see a lot of the academy boys getting a chance.
“You've got Jamar Loza, Kyle McFadden, Harry Toffolo, the Murphy boys (Jacob has replaced twin brother Josh in this week's England Under-20 squad), Cameron King.
“They've all played for the first team, featuring in the cup games when the gaffer's managed to utilise the squad well and brought through many of what was essentially the [2013] FA Youth Cup team.
"So they are good players and they're developing at a good rate, they just need to stay hungry and know that the chances are there, as has been shown, if they work hard and want to perform.
"I've known Josh from before I came to Norwich anyway from England U18s and U19s so when I came to Norwich I had someone to talk to, him and Jacob. They're great young players. They just need to listen, to learn and to work hard, and they'll have a good future ahead of them."
Josh Murphy in particular has been identified as a star in the making and Redmond helps make sure he doesn't get above himself.
"He's very grounded, he's a good boy," Redmond, one year his senior, said. "He's not lary – plus I keep him on his toes every now and again."
Gregg Broughton has observed the manner in which Redmond, who made his Birmingham first-team debut at the age of 16, mingles helpfully with the younger players.
"Nathan is very down to earth," Norwich's academy manager said. "He got a good schooling at Birmingham City and is exactly the sort of young person we should be looking to have around the club.
“Nathan is a good academy product and, after all, you do have to keep recruiting all the way through."
Pete Lansley (@PeteLansley), a freelance football reporter for the Sunday Times and the Guardian, is a Level 2/Youth Module 3 coach working with Derby County Community Trust.
